Hidamari Bathhouse isn’t like the quaint, traditional places you see in movies, with their faux-wooden curved roofings and inviting signs. From the outside, hidden away in a small alley, it looks indistinguishable from a laundromat, a realtor or a money lender’s office — and the family that owns it regularly have to push back against rumours that their business offers services that can’t see the light of day for that exact reason. 

Nevertheless, what the bathhouse lacks in appeal to tourists, it makes up for with affordable pricing and honest service. For many families who call Nishisaka home, it’s the only spot that can make up for the lack of a bathroom in their small apartments within walking distance. It has hot water, chilled drinks and a reliable proprietress behind the counter, and for many — including the Shiraharas — that’s everything they can afford to need.

Flicking through her phone, Koharu steps out of the bathhouse, sent off by a “We hope to see you again” and a bow from the old lady she has just paid one instance of 250 yen and two instances of nothing — kids under twelve bathe for free — yet she quickly turns around when she notices she’s not being followed.

Koharu: Come on, you two. Hands.

She slightly raises her hands, opening and closing them a few times to signal at her younger siblings, who quickly comply and catch up to their sister, Chiaki grabbing Koharu’s right hand with all the energy a preschooler can muster, while Kayo sheepishly latches onto the left.

Chiaki: Can I have milk from the machine before we go?

Koharu: We have milk at home. And we’re running late already. You can have some when we get home, okay? (as she turns to leave, she notices Kayo’s shoes are still untied) You forgot something, Kayo.

Kayo: It’s too hard… You have to do it for me, sis.

Koharu: You could tie them just fine when we left the house, couldn’t you?

Kayo: (she shakes her head, as if having just been accused of a heinous crime) No, mom tied them for me! I didn’t tie them. I can’t tie them.

With a slight sigh, Koharu hunches and begins tying the laces on Kayo’s left shoe, patiently but somewhat dryly explaining every step of the process.

Koharu: Now you try the other one.

Kayo: (she shakes her head again) It’s too hard. I forgot already.

Chiaki: It’s not that hard!

Koharu: (she tries her best to speak in a kind voice, which doesn’t exactly come naturally to her) Come on, at least give it a try.

Kayo: I don’t wanna… I’ll get it wrong. You don’t get it wrong so why do I have to do it?

Koharu: Mom told us to be home by five. (she hunches down and ties the other shoe as well) Now be a good girl, okay? 

Yet as Koharu gets back up and turns to finally leave, she is met with an unexpected sight — a tape recorder, held up close to her face by a man wearing glasses and a disheveled shirt, accompanied by another, younger man, holding a camera with a large lens. She recoils and sets a few steps back, yet as she does, the man only seems to be coming closer. The camera clicks and flashes, disorienting her.

???: Miss Shirahara? I’m Toyoda, and this is Suzuki. We’re with the Ayashiki Morning Herald. Could you confirm to us that you are the young woman NOW! Magazine has referred to as “Ace Detective April”?

Koharu: (she scowls at the cameraman, gesturing as if she’s swatting away a fly) That’s a dumb name. Out of my way.

Toyoda: So, you’re not denying that you’re April, then? Well, in that case I must congratulate you, on the behalf of the Herald’s entire staff as well, for your admirable work hunting down the Monster of Mitakihara—

Koharu: That’s an even dumber name— (flash)

Toyoda: Care to tell us a little bit more about your investigation into this vicious serial killer? (flash) Why did you feel you had to be the one to step up? (flash) And how did you discover that Diana Caelum was the real culprit? (flash) Where are you headed next? Are you going to continue working with the police to catch criminals? (flash)

Koharu: (intimidated by the reporter’s barrage of questions and the camera’s constant flashing, she shrinks back, trying to shield Chiaki and Kayo from their prying looks, muttering some lines she remembers hearing on television) … I-I do not wish to answer any questions at this time… P-Please respect my privacy and the privacy of my lo— (yet as the cameraman takes another picture, she snaps) Stop taking pictures! 

In a fury, she swats away the tape recorder, at which point Kayo starts bawling her eyes out. Baffled, the reporter’s eyes follow the trajectory of his tape recorder as it falls to the ground, its cheap plastic screen cracking, yet before he can properly react, a strong force pulls at his collar, turning him around to be met with a slap in the face.

Toyoda: What the— (exasperated, he looks up at his assailant) This is assault! I’m a member of the press!

Hikari: I’m not gonna deny that. But from one “member of the press” to another, I would advise you not to sue. I don’t think “she wouldn’t let me harass some minors in peace, Your Honor”, is gonna hold up particularly well in court.

Toyoda: I-I’ll have you know I’m with the Ayashiki Morning Herald—

Hikari: (she scoffs, rolling her eyes) Why am I not surprised?

Toyoda: Look ma’am, if you really are a colleague of ours, as you claim to be, you know fully well that we are within our right to report on the matters our audience wants to know about. I didn’t decide what people read, I’m just trying to make an honest living, as we all do—

Hikari: (she stares the man down) Then practice what you preach, and leave my daughter alone. Now, scram.

Without much of a response, the reporters do as they are told, running off like spooked animals. As soon as they’re gone, Kayo runs up to her mother, and Hikari picks her up, trying to get her to calm down, while Koharu stares at the concrete below her feet.

Chiaki: … Who were those scary men, sis? Is Kayo going to be okay?

She doesn’t answer, at least not until Hikari turns back to her.

Hikari: … Is everything alright, Koharu? Have you calmed down? Do you need—

Koharu: … Why are you here?

Hikari: … You were running late. I… was afraid something might have happened, with that killer you caught escaping. I… It suddenly dawned on me that I shouldn’t let you go out on your own anymore. And looks like I was r—

Koharu: I don’t get it…! (she speaks firmly, but remembers to lower her voice so as not to scare Kayo any further)

Hikari: We’ll talk about this when we get home, okay?

Koharu: Why do you defend me against these people when you’re always saying this is what I want? I don’t want this! I don’t want this “detective April” stuff! I’m not doing it for attention! I’m not doing it for the thrill of it! You’re wrong! You’re all wrong!

Hikari: I didn’t—

Koharu: You said I was looking for it!

Hikari: I never—

Koharu: You did! … I heard you, you did. Don’t say you didn’t because you did! So why are you protecting me now? Isn’t this the lesson I’m supposed to learn?

Hikari: I would… I would never let you “learn your lesson” like this, Koharu… even if … Even if I thought you deserved to be put in your place. But I don’t. Okay? I don’t. I want you to meet the world on your own terms, but… I-I think I let my own hang-ups get the best of me. Even if I didn’t mean to, I’ve said things that hurt you, it’s just that—

Koharu: It’s not fair. Why don’t I get to do any of the things that you do. If you’d found this killer… the truth about what’s going on in this city, you would’ve been proud of yourself. You would’ve been proud! You’d never accuse yourself of just doing it for attention or for the thrill of it!

Hikari: I would—

Koharu: Why?

Hikari: … Because that would never happen to me, sweetie. I… I would never get that kind of scoop like that, on my own, so… Maybe I just… refused to acknowledge that… and thought that you couldn’t possibly have done it out of a genuine desire to… because that would make you a bet—

Koharu: That’s not true. That’s not true! I’m just… I just want to do what you do. I just want to help people and find the truth and—

Hikari: You’re already doing that, Koharu… And I’m sorry I have never told you this before, but… I’m proud of you. And I’m sorry… You’ve done so much.

Koharu stays quiet for a long time, staring at the ground as she focuses on her breathing. She sways forwards, then to the back, closing her eyes, and swallows. Then, she opens her mouth, but nothing but stammering comes out. 

Koharu: … I… I-I…

Hikari: You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to.

Koharu: … (she nods, a little bit relieved)

Hikari: Let’s go home.